Total launched its first public innovation day where it recognised six corporate organisations for efforts in innovation.
Total managing director, Kazi Rahman, said the break in tradition was a measure in innovation following the impact of COVID-19.
Minister for Local Development, Premila Kumar, officiated at the day-long event, saying new business models had emerged following COVID-19.
Total’s InnoDays celebration is an annual event where the group’s marketing and service branch is present.
Effort
The theme of InnoDays 2020 was innovating with user experience in the new normal.
The event was celebrated at Holiday Inn Suva.
Total has a workforce of over 4000 employees, and spent over $1 billion in research and development this year.
The six companies recognised for their innovation this year were:
Post Fiji.
Vodafone Fiji.
Fiji National University.
Global Green Growth Institute.
Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport, and
Tourism Fiji.
Post Fiji
Post Fiji chief executive office Anirudh Bansod said: “Our E-shop has come out stronger. State-owned enterprises have to generate their own profitability.”
“But in our case, profit is the least of our concerns as we try to keep small micro enterprises in business. Our call centres are busier than ever, indicating we have more customers.”
Tourism Fiji
Tourism Fiji sales and marketing manager, Emma Campbell, said the Love Our Locals campaign had drawn 12,000 Facebook members, offered 300 deals to date, and reopened 100 tourism-based businesses.
“This is not enough,” she said. “But it has allowed the companies to maintain operation for weekend staycation.”
The travelling demographics were between the ages 18 years to 35 years, who had indicated interest to go, he said.
Vodafone Fiji
Vodafone Fiji’s head of digital services, Rizvi Amith, said more esports were developed over the past three years, than ever before, with one billions games downloaded a month.
Vodafone Fiji has not subscribed to TikTok as the company felt the forum served a different purposes, he said.
Feedback: frederica.elbourne@fijisun.com.fj